Hydrofoil device for maneuvering in water



2 1963 T. LEPINE ETAL HYDROFOIL DEVICE FOR MANEUVERING IN WATER Filed April 17, 1961 INVENTORS LOUIS T. LEPINE HARLEY J. ADAIR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,107,640 HYDROFOIL DEVICE FOR MANEUVKERING IN WATER Louis T. Lepine, 4 Craig Road, Chelmsford, Mass., and Harley J. Adair, 803 W. Kaye Sh, Marquette, Mich. Filed Apr. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 103,628 1 Claim. (Cl. ILL-16) This invention relates broadly to amusement and exercising devices of the aquatic type, and more particularly to hydrofoils for use by swimmers and skin divers.

This invention is an improvement on the construction shown in application Serial Number 43,941, filed July 19, 19 60, for Hydrofoil Device to Aid Swimmers and the Like in Marieuvering in the Water, Louis T. Lepine and Harley I. Adair, inventors, and which application is co-pending herewith.

The improved structures of the present invention provide greatly increased maneuverability for the user of the device in the water over the prior art and over the structure disclosed in the mentioned prior co-pending application.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hydrofoil device of the mentioned character for skimming the water or diving beneath the surface of the water and embodying separate hydrofoil units controllable by the hands of the user to provide increased maneuverability, enjoyment and exercise.

A further object is to provide novel and simplified rigid yoke means for mounting the hydrofoil device upon a tow line which trails behind a towing boat, the rigid yoke means rendering the device more stable and maneuverable than certain prior art devices of a broadly similar character employing entirely flexible towing means.

Further and more genenal objects are to provide a device of the above-mentioned character which is highly simplified in construction, lightweight, sturdy and durable, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to operate without special skill by the user.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, 7

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the device in use,

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG- URE 1, partly in section,

FIGURE 3 is a similar plan view showing a modification of the invention,

FIGURE 4 is a similar plan view showing another modification,

FIGURE 5 is a similar plan view showing a further modification of the invention,

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section taken on line 66 of FIGURE 5 and showing the typical cross sectional shape of the hydrofoil, which shape is common to the several embodiments of the invention,

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view common to the several embodiments and showing a swivel connection between the tow line and rigid towing yoke.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration 3 ,107,640 Patented Oct. 22, 1963 are shown preferred embodiments of the invention, attention is directed first to FIGURES '1 and 2, wherein the numeral 10 designates generally a substantially rigid towing yoke, which also forms the support for the novel adjustable hydrofoils to be described. The yoke 10 may be suitably formed of metal tubing or the like, and it comprises a pair of forward converging arms 11, integrally joined at 12 for attachment to a suitable tow line 13, connected thereto by a swivel pin 14 having an eye 15 to receive the tow line, FIGURE 7. The tow line is thus swively connected to the yoke 10' at its forward end and transverse center, as shown in the drawings. The tow line 13 is adapted to be pulled by a towing motor boat or the like, not shown.

The yoke 10 further comprises relatively short spaced parallel longitudinal sides 16 and a rear straight transversely extending portion 17 adapted to serve as an axle for the hydrofoil means.

Such means comprises in FIGURES l and 2 a pair of separate identical hydrofoil sections 18 and 19 which may be formed of wood, molded plastics material, sheet metal or the like. The hydrofoil sections are streamlined and symmetrical as shown in cross section in FIG- URE 6 and they are rectangular as shown in the plan views and have smoothly rounded leading and trailing edges 20 and 21 to facilitate passage through the water or planing action on the surface of the water with a minimum of turbulence. The top and bottom faces of the hydrofoil sections 18 and 19 are gradually curved longitudinally between the rounded leading and trailing edges .20 and .21 and the hydrofoil sections taper symmetrically from their middle relatively thick portions toward their leading and trailing edges. The ends of the hydrofoil sections may be squared off as shown in the drawings or rounded if preferred.

The hydrofoil sections 18 and 19 have central transversely extending bores 22 for the reception of the axle 20 which freely rotatably supports the same. Washers 2.3 and cotter pins 24 or the like are mounted upon the axle 17 near its ends to limit outward lateral movement of the two hydrofoil sections thereon.

A relatively stiff coil spring 25 surrounds the axle 17 between the spaced hydrofoil sections and has opposite end portions 26- firmly anchored within small openings formed in the inner opposed ends of the hydrofoil sections. The spring 25 serves to maintain the two hydrofoil sections normally parallel and in the same plane, and'the two hydrofoil sections and the spring are freely rotatable as a unit upon the axle 17.

Each hydrofoil section has a hand grip opening 27 formed therethrough at its transverse center and forwardly of the axle 17 and somewhat rearwardly of the lea-ding edges 20. The hydrofoil sections are grasped by the swimmer in the manner shown clearly in FIGURE 1 during the use of the device for exercise and/or amusement in the water.

During use, the swimmer may pivot or rotate the two hydrofoil \sections upon the axle 17 in unison or independently in order to steer the device in the desired man ner in the water or to produce planing on the surface of the water or to drive beneath the surface and maneuver in the desired manner under the water. The resilient connection between the two hydrofoil sections afforded by the spring 25 renders independent operation of the modifications of the invention.

hydrofoil sections possible, and the two hydrofoil sections will always tend to return to parallel co-planar positions automatically and without eifort on the part of the swimmer or user, as should be obvious. With a little practice, a wide variety of maneuvers upon the water and below the surface of the water can be achieved and no special skill as required as the device is merely toward through the water by the motor boat. The rigid yoke renders the device stable and the yoke is swiveled at 14 to the towing line as previously described.

In FIGURE 3, there is shown a modification of the invention embodying the same tow line 13, yoke 19 and swivel pin 14 as previously described. A pair of hydrofoil sections 28 and 29 are mounted rotatably on the transverse axle 17 and positioned upon the axle by the washers 23 and cotter pins 24, all previously described. The hydrofoil sections 28 and 29 have the previouslydescribed hand grip openings 27 and are generally identical to the hydrofoil sections in the prior form of the invention.

In FIGURE 3, a pair of rigid connecting pins 30 span the space between the inner ends of the two hydrofoil sections and have their ends firmly yet detachably anchored within openings 31 formed in the opposed ends of the hydrofoil sections 28 and 2?. The rigid connecting pins 30 are parallel to the axle 17 on opposite sides of the same and serve to maintain the hydrofoil sections normally in parallel coplanar relation so that the same may rotate as a unit upon the axle 17 during operation. With this arrangement, the swimmer may grasp the hand grip openings 27 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 and manipulate the two hydrofoil sections 28 and 29 as a unit while they are rigidly connected and freely totatable upon the axle 17 between the washers 23. Steering may be accomplished by lateral tilting of the entire yoke 10, and maneuvering, diving, skimming on the water surface, etc. are possible without difficulty after a little practice.

The pins 3% may be removed from the assembly at any time to render the hydrofoil sections 28 and 29 independently operable with or without an inner connecting spring merely by removal of the cotter pins 24 and separation of the hydrofoil sections toward the opposite ends of the yoke.

In FIGURE 4 there is shown a further slight modification wherein the spring and the pins are omitted entirely and the companion hydrofoil sections 32 and 33 are freely journa-led upon the axle 17 for independent manipulation in the same manner described previously in connection with the first form of the invention. In FIGURE 4, additional washers 34 and cotter pins 35 are provided at the inner ends of the hydrofoil sections to limit lateral displacement thereof upon the axle. All other parts shown in FIGURE 4 are identical to the corresponding parts previously described in the foregoing In view of the earlier description, it is believed that the use or operation of the device shown in FIGURE 4 should be obvious.

In FIGURE 5, there is shown another modification of the invention, in somewhat simpler form, and comprising a substantially rigid yoke 36 formed of metal tubing or the like and having forwardly converging sides 37 integrally joined at 38 for attachment to the previouslydescribed tow line 13 by means of the swivel pin 14. The yoke 36 does not include the continuous transverse axle 17, but instead has a pair of short unconnected axially aligned trunnion parts 39 extending transversely inwardly from the rear ends of the yoke arms as shown.

A single unitary hydrofoil element or blade 40 extends between the rear ends of the yoke arms 37 transversely and has small end socket openings 41, rotatably receiving the trunnion parts 39 of the yoke. The hydrofoil element 40 is thus freely rotatably mounted upon the yoke and is provided near and inwardly of its ends and rearwardly of its leading edge with a pair of spaced hand 4 grip openings 42 to be grasped for pivoting the hydrofoil element upon the trunnions 39 and for tilting and maneu vering the entire device to produce planing, diving, steering and various other maneuvers in the water. The use or operation of the device is believed to be obvious in light of the previous descriptions.

The hydrofoil element 40 is approximately twice as long transversely as any of the previously-described hydrofoil sections, and the opposite end portions of the element 40 are preferably, symmetrically tapered and rounded as shown at 43 inFlGURE 5. The cross sectional shape indicated in FIGURE 6 is typical for all of the hydrofoils in the several modifications as previously mentioned.

In connection with all of the embodiments of the invention illustrated, it is contemplated within the scope of the invention to omit entirely the hand grip openings 27 and 42 in some instances, although the use of these openings is preferred. Instead of the hand grip openings, the leading edges of the separated hydrofoil sections or the unitary hydrofoil shown in FIGURE 5 may be recessed forwardly of the presently shown hand grip openings for convenient grasping by the user. Additionally, the hydrofoils may be successfully grasped and manipulated without the provision of the hand grip openings or the mentioned recesses, and the user may simply grip. the leading edge or edges of the hydrofoils with his hands and manipulate the same satisfactorily.

In connection with the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2, if preferred, the single spring 25 shown in the drawings may be replaced by two smaller springs located adjacent the outer ends of the hydrofoil sections 18 and 19, although the preferred construction is shown in the drawings.

If preferred, the washers or stop elements 23 at the outside ends of the companion hydrofoil sections shown in FIGURES 1 through 4 may be omitted, and the longitudinal yoke sides 16will then serve to limit outward lateral movement of the hydrofoil sections beyond any appreciableextent. The preferred construction, however, is shown in the drawings.

The continuous axle form-ing portion 17 of the rigid yoke 10 may, if preferred, be replaced by a sectional axle portion including end pieces integral with the sides 16 and a central axle piece extending between the separated hydrofoil sections and engaging within end openings of the same. All of these minor modifications are within the scope of the invention as disclosed and claimed herein.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that, various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be re sorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claim.

The invention having been described, what is claimed 1s:

A hydrofoil device for use by swimmers to facilitate maneuvering in water comprising a one-piece solid bladelike symmetrically shaped streamlined hydrofoil having a rounded marginal edge and tapering forwardly and rearwardly symmetrically from a relatively thick central portion toward said edge, said hydrofoil elongated transversely of its direction of travel through water and hav ing symmetrically rounded ends and having a length transversely of approximately four times the width of the hydrofoil-in the direction of passage through the water, said hydrofoil having a pair only of through hand grip openings near and inwardly of its leading edge and roughly midway between the ends of the hydrofoil and the transverse center thereof, each hand grip opening of a size to accommodate one human hand, said hydrofoil having a socket opening in each end thereof and said socket openings in axial alignment on the major geometrical axis of the hydrofoil, a generally V-shaped rigid symmetrical one-piece suspension yoke for said hydrofoil having its closed side adapted for connection with a towing 'line and including converging arms spanning the hydrofoil longitudinally thereof, and short inwardly directed axially aligned integral axle extensions on the arms of said yoke engaging within said socket openings rotatably and serving to secure the hydrofoil to the yoke rotatably on the major geometrical axis of the hydrofoil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Huffman June 18, 1878 Nobles Feb. 24, 1885 Munn May 31, 1955 Shepard June 26, 1956 McCormick Mar. 15, 1960 Rep'logle Aug. 9, 1960 

